POUGHKEEPSIE – Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, Poughkeepsie firefighters were dispatched to 20 North Bridge Street for an apartment fire. Arriving first responders confirmed the fire and summoned additional resources from neighboring Arlington and Fairview fire departments.
Firefighters battled frigid temperatures prior to gaining access to the second-floor apartment that was filled with toxic smoke in an attempt to save the tenant that neighbors indicated was still inside. While crews went to work isolating and extinguishing the blaze, an additional crew searched the apartment for the resident. An unconscious man was located and carried outside by Poughkeepsie firefighters and handed over to Arlington firefighters and Mobile Life medics for treatment. Emergency personnel immediately initiated CPR to the unconscious male prior to rushing him to a local hospital for advanced care.
In addition to firefighters from all thee departments, workers from Central Hudson responded to the scene to terminate power to the two affected units. City of Poughkeepsie Building Department employee Eric Philipp responded to declare both the first and second-floor apartments on the southside of the building uninhabitable.
Poughkeepsie FD Deputy Chief Joe Franco said that the downstairs tenant was contemplating using the American Red Cross to provide necessary shelter while her abode was declared unsafe for occupancy.
The cause and origin of the fire have not yet been determined and the condition of the rescued tenant has not been made available.
